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Stargazers to get 'close' view of Saturn

PostPosted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 9:31 am
by Paul
Seen this on the OptusNet news and on Triple M

The Ballaarat Astronomical Society in central Victoria says stargazers are in for a treat this week.

The planet Saturn is almost at its brightest and the Macholz comet will also become visible.

Ballarat's observatory will host viewing nights on Friday and Saturday from 8:30pm AEDT.

The president of the Ballaarat Astronomical Society, Judith Bailey, says seeing Saturn at its closest point to earth is a beautiful sight.

"This is the earliest that you'll see it at it's brightest you might say, so as the weeks pass now, Saturn will become an earlier object, but it will be losing its brightness because it's moving further away from us, so we're trying to get the best of both aspects, the brightness and the reasonable viewing time for children," she said.

PostPosted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 9:48 am
by sirhc55
Paul

Very interesting especially as the Americans have launched that rocket to explode a device in(on) a comet to learn about the beginning of the universe.

What worries me is the comment that it will throw the comet a few degrees off course and should not affect Earth!

Armageddon! :cry:

Chris

PostPosted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 10:12 am
by Paul
sirhc55 wrote:Paul

Very interesting especially as the Americans have launched that rocket to explode a device in(on) a comet to learn about the beginning of the universe.

What worries me is the comment that it will throw the comet a few degrees off course and should not affect Earth!

Armageddon! :cry:

Chris


Maybe there looking for WMD's? as they sure arn't in Iraq.. :wink:
Apperently Bruce Willis can help us on the re-direction of the comet!

PostPosted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 10:15 am
by sirhc55
Paul wrote:
sirhc55 wrote:Paul

Very interesting especially as the Americans have launched that rocket to explode a device in(on) a comet to learn about the beginning of the universe.

What worries me is the comment that it will throw the comet a few degrees off course and should not affect Earth!

Armageddon! :cry:

Chris


Maybe there looking for WMD's? as they sure arn't in Iraq.. :wink:
Apperently Bruce Willis can help us on the re-direction of the comet!


Just been on the phone to Bruce and he told me to bugger off as he was making a comedy now - the whole million yards - and he saved the world once so now we can do it ourselves :?

Chris

PostPosted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 11:10 pm
by Killakoala
All we need here in Sydney is some nice clear skies....

PostPosted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 11:18 pm
by MHD
Killakoala wrote:All we need here in Sydney is some nice clear skies....

Easy: Just get rid of sydney!

PostPosted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 12:01 am
by skippy
I went to an observatory just outside Dubbo between xmas and NYE, and saw Saturn through a 12" reflector 'scope. First time I'd ever seen the rings. Magic sight. Would have been great to hook up my camera, but such was not to be. Was about 9:30pm I think.

If anyone wants to see it, it's outside Dubbo near Western Plains zoo.

Dubbo Observatory

PostPosted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 8:06 am
by sheepie
skippy wrote:If anyone wants to see it, it's outside Dubbo near Western Plains zoo.


Hrrrmmmm - might need one of birdies lenses for this one. My 70-300 hasn't got the reach to see Dubbo from here :wink:

PostPosted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 11:06 am
by MATT
MAybe that Ruski would come in handy, I could see Dubbo from Bilo!!

MATT

PostPosted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 11:12 am
by sirhc55
One should keep away from Russian lens. I have heard that they built miniature cameras into the lens that took photos of your eye. Then the built-in transmitter sent a pic back to the NKVD via satellite so that you could be put on a list of ”sympathisers” :wink:

Chris

PostPosted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 2:58 pm
by birddog114
And they're ex-KGB stocks, you may receive a courtesy letter from our AFP soon after purchase.